OUR VIEW | Hauge's Experience, Ethics Earn Our Support

Interest in the county prosecutor’s race has undoubtedly increased since sitting prosecutor Russ Hauge filed a lawsuit against the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Range in September. The high-profile suit should not overshadow the qualifications and philosophies of each candidate, since the office has far more responsibility than one case can illustrate. But the gun club issue plays a part in our opinion as well.

Looking at the race through the lenses of both background and the case at hand, we favor Russ Hauge.

In our opinion, Hauge, a Democrat, has demonstrated a legal expertise and ability to manage a large law office in his 16 years that surpass that of independent challenger Bruce Danielson. Hauge has been forward-thinking with his involvement in reforming how sex offenders and drug addicts are handled by the system, and transparent in outlining the charging policy his office uses. He most recently brought a budget to the county commission that proposes an increase in revenue to support the prosecutor’s office. That’s the type of management voters and county commissioners should expect these days, in particular at a time when public safety is being emphasized as a vital service to the health of our community.

The more recent decision to pursue the gun club lawsuit indicates that Hauge values the public process over politics. The questions surrounding public safety, code compliance and environmental concerns that triggered the lawsuit should be heard before a judge at this point. Because of his decision to proceed with the case, Hauge has faced vitriol and accusations of ideological bias — some of it unfairly, since Hauge has acknowledged that he is a gun owner himself.

Such political courage indicates to us that his compass as a public servant is true. This race should be decided beyond a single high-profile issue of the past months, and the office should be filled by an attorney who will uphold and prosecute the law in the face of the pressure that comes with the office.

We think Russ Hauge is the best choice to do just that.

The Kitsap Sun's editorial opinions and endorsements are done by the editor and opinion editor, in consultation with the editorial board. The board is made up of Editor David Nelson, Opinion Editor Jim Campbell, Publisher Charles Horton, CFO Glen Simonsen, and community members Luis Barrentes (Poulsbo), Jon Beard (Bremerton) and Carol Malmquist (Manchester).